Judge orders Baylor to turn over documents in sex assault lawsuit

A federal judge has ordered Baylor University to turn over information — including interview recordings and documents — provided to a law firm hired amid a sexual assault scandal that rocked the nation’s largest Baptist school.

Baylor had sought to block the release of information it provided to the Philadelphia-based law firm Pepper Hamilton, which was hired to investigate how the university handled sexual assault cases. Baylor claimed the information it provided the law firm was protected under attorney-client privilege.

But U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled Friday in Austin that Baylor must release the material to attorneys representing a group of 10 women suing the university. He said Baylor waived its protections under attorney-client privilege when it released a detailed summary of the law firm’s investigation and quoted text messages and conversations by university personnel about sexual assault reports in court filings.

“‘Would it be fair to allow Baylor to protect remaining undisclosed details regarding the Pepper Hamilton investigation when it intentionally, publicly, and selectively released certain details of the investigation, including attorney-client communications? The Court concludes, with respect to materials covered by the attorney-client privilege, that it would not,” Pitman said.

Baylor faces federal lawsuits from more than a dozen women who contend that school officials ignored or suppressed assault claims and fostered a rape culture within the football program. The lawsuits allege that officials mishandled or ignored sexual assault allegations for years. The school is also facing several federal civil rights investigations and a state criminal investigation.

Due to previous orders issued by Pitman regarding the protection of sensitive information, it’s unclear whether any of the information will ultimately be made public, said Chad Dunn, an attorney for the women. The trial is set for October.

Florida: Defensive line coach Chris Rumph got a three-year contract extension and a $100,000 raise after helping the Gators become a formidable front in 2016. Florida released contracts for five assistant coaches Friday in response to an open records request.

Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier’s base salary jumped from $525,000 to $842,725 in 2017, but his overall raise is minimal since Michigan paid him $300,000 in 2016 as part of a buyout when coach Brady Hoke was fired in December 2014. Nussmeier also received a two-year extension, keeping him under contract through 2018.

Linebackers coach Tim Skipper, tight ends coach Greg Nord and receivers coach Kerry Dixon also received two-year extensions through 2018. Skipper will make $456,000, Nord will earn $420,000, and Dixon will get $300,000.

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